Cable spool carrying device

ABSTRACT

A cable spool carrying device. In one example embodiment, a cable spool carrying device includes a handle, first and second legs attached to the handle, first and second feet attached to the first and second legs, respectively, and means for biasing the first and second legs away from one another.

BACKGROUND

A cable spool is a flanged drum around which various types of electricaland optical cable can be wound. For example, a standard cable spool maybe sized to accommodate about one thousand feet of standard coaxialcable. The drum of the spool may be about one foot high and have flangesattached to the top and bottom of the drum that are about one foot indiameter. In addition, each flange generally includes a circular openingthrough which a mandrel can be inserted in order to allow the spool tobe spun by pulling on the cable, thus unwinding the cable from thespool. A standard cable spool is thus small enough to be transported bya single cable technician during cable installation at a home orbusiness, for example.

Unfortunately, however, the bulk and the weight of a standard cablespool that is loaded with cable generally prevent a cable technicianfrom lifting and carrying the spool with only one hand. As theinstallation of coaxial cable generally requires the use of tools andother equipment, requiring the use of both hands to carry the spoolnecessitates that the cable technician make multiple trips between hisor her vehicle and the installation site because he/she does not have afree hand to simultaneously carry tools and other equipment. Requiringmultiple trips to transport the cable spool and the tools and equipmentincreases the time required at each cable installation site, as well asthe cost of each cable installation.

Further, requiring the use of both hands to carry a cable spool can bedifficult and even dangerous when a technician needs to simultaneouslyperform a task that requires the use of a hand, such as holding onto ahand railing while navigating stairs or gripping rungs of a ladder whileclimbing the ladder.

SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

In general, example embodiments of the present invention relate to acable spool carrying device. The example cable spool carrying devicedisclosed herein enables a cable technician to carry a cable spool witha single hand, thus freeing the other hand to simultaneously performother tasks such as carrying tools and other equipment or holding onto ahand rail or a ladder.

In one example embodiment, a carrying device includes a handle, firstand second legs attached to the handle, and first and second feetattached to the first and second legs, respectively. Each leg isconfigured to extend through a circular mandrel opening in a flange of acable spool and each foot is configured to engage an inside surface ofthe flange.

In another example embodiment, a cable spool carrying device includes ahandle, first and second legs attached to the handle, first and secondfeet attached to the first and second legs, respectively, and means forbiasing the first and second legs away from one another.

In yet another example embodiment, a cable spool carrying deviceincludes a handle, first and second legs connected to the handle, firstand second feet connected to the first and second legs, respectively,and first and second leaf springs connected to the handle and configuredto bias the first and second legs away from one another. Each leg isconfigured to extend through a circular mandrel opening in a flange of acable spool. At least a portion of each foot includes an uneven surfacethat is generally perpendicular to the corresponding leg and isconfigured to engage an inside surface of the flange of the cable spool.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is itintended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimedsubject matter. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoinggeneral description and the following detailed description of thepresent invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended toprovide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of example embodiments of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of example embodimentsgiven in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a top perspective view of an example cable spool carryingdevice;

FIG. 1B is a front view of the example cable spool carrying device ofFIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of the example cable spool carryingdevice of FIG. 1A just prior to the insertion of a portion of the deviceinto a circular mandrel opening in a flange of an example cable spool;

FIG. 2B is a front view of the example cable spool carrying device ofFIG. 2A and a front cross-sectional view of the example cable spool ofFIG. 2A during insertion of a portion of the device into the circularmandrel opening in the flange of the cable spool;

FIG. 2C is a front view of the example cable spool carrying device ofFIG. 2A and a front cross-sectional view of the example cable spool ofFIG. 2A after insertion of a portion of the device into the circularmandrel opening in the flange of the example cable spool and during thelifting of the cable spool using the device; and

FIG. 2D is a front view of the example cable spool carrying device ofFIG. 2A and a front cross-sectional view of the example cable spool ofFIG. 2A prior to extraction of a portion of the device from the circularmandrel opening in the flange of the example cable spool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a cable spoolcarrying device. In the following detailed description of some exampleembodiments, reference will now be made in detail to example embodimentswhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible,the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to referto the same or like parts. These embodiments are described in sufficientdetail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention.Other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be madewithout departing from the scope of the present invention. Moreover, itis to be understood that the various embodiments of the invention,although different, are not necessarily mutually exclusive. For example,a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in oneembodiment may be included within other embodiments. The followingdetailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense,and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appendedclaims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claimsare entitled.

Example Cable Spool Carrying Device

With reference now to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an example cable spool carryingdevice 100 is disclosed. As mentioned previously, and as discussed ingreater detail below in connection with FIGS. 2A-2D, the example cablespool carrying device 100 enables a cable technician to carry a cablespool with only one hand, thus freeing the other hand to simultaneouslyperform other tasks such as carrying tools and other equipment orholding onto a hand rail or a ladder. It is understood, however, thatthe example cable spool carrying device 100 is not limited to use incarrying a cable spool, but can more generally be used to carry any itemthat includes an appropriately sized opening in a relatively thincomponent of the item.

As disclosed in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the example cable spool carrying device100 generally includes a handle 102, first and second legs 104 and 106attached to the handle 102, and first and second feet 108 and 110attached to the first and second handles 104 and 106, respectively. Thehandle 102 includes four indentations 112 for four fingers of a humanhand 300 (see FIG. 2A) and is configured to substantially surround thefour fingers when the handle 102 is gripped by the hand 300. The legs104 and 106 include curved outer surfaces 114 and 116, respectively. Thefeet 108 and 110 include uneven surfaces 118 and 120, respectively. Theuneven surfaces 118 and 120 are substantially perpendicular to the legs104 and 106 and substantially parallel to the top portion of the handle102. The feet 108 and 110 also include tapered surfaces 122 and 124,respectively.

As disclosed in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the example device 100 may furtherinclude first and second supports 126 and 128 reinforcing theconnections between the handle 102 and the first and second legs 104 and106, respectively. The example device 100 may further include aleaf-spring component 130 positioned between the first and second legs104 and 106. The leaf-spring component 130 includes first and secondleaf springs 132 and 134 connected to the handle 102 via a post 136. Theleaf-spring component 130 is configured to bias the first and secondlegs 104 and 106 away from one another. The leaf-spring component 130 istherefore one example structural implementation of a means for biasingthe first and second legs 104 and 106 away from one another.

It is noted that a variety of means may be employed to perform thefunctions disclosed herein concerning the leaf-spring component 130biasing of the first and second legs 104 and 106 away from one another.Thus, the leaf-spring component 130 comprises but one exemplarystructural implementation of a means for biasing of the first and secondlegs 104 and 106 away from one another.

Accordingly, it should be understood that such structuralimplementations are disclosed herein solely by way of example and shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention in anyway. Rather, any other structure or combination of structures effectivein implementing the functionality disclosed herein may likewise beemployed. By way of example, in some example embodiments of the exampledevice 100, the leaf-spring component 130 may be altered to include coilsprings (not shown) instead of the leaf springs 132 and 134. Further, inother example embodiments the leaf-spring component 130 may be omittedaltogether and the biasing functionality may be accomplished by one ormore resilient portions of the first and second legs 104 and 106. In yetother example embodiments, the biasing functionality may be accomplishedby some combination of the above example embodiments.

The example cable spool carrying device 100 may be integrally molded asa single piece. For example, the device 100 may be integrally moldedfrom polypropylene, semi-rigid polyvinyl chloride (semi-rigid PVC),polyethylene, or some combination thereof.

The example cable spool carrying device 100 may further include avisible indicator (not shown) that designates the size of the circularmandrel opening for which the device 100 is configured to carry. Forexample, the device 100 can include a color, visible texture, visiblecharacters, or other visibly perceptible characteristic on a surface ofthe device 100 to visibly specify the particular size of circularmandrel opening that the device 100 is configured to carry. As atechnician may need to install cable from differently sized cable spoolswith differently sized circular mandrel openings, this visible indicatorcan enable the technician to quickly distinguish between differentlysized devices 100. For example, one circular mandrel opening may beabout 1 and ⅝ inches in diameter, while another circular mandrel openingmay be about 2 inches in diameter.

II Example Use of the Example Cable Spool Carrying Device

With reference now to FIGS. 2A-2D, one example use of the example cablespool carrying device 100 is disclosed. In particular, FIGS. 2A-2Ddisclose the example cable spool carrying device 100 being used to carryan example cable spool 200 with only one hand 300 of a technicianholding the example device 100. The example cable spool 200 includes adrum 202 and top and bottom flanges 204 and 206. Portions of the drumand/or top and bottom flanges 204 may be formed from plywood, forexample. Approximately 1000 feet of standard coaxial cable 208 is woundaround the drum 202 between the flanges 204 and 206. The top and bottomflanges 204 and 206 include top and bottom circular mandrel openings 210and 212. A mandrel (not shown) can be inserted through the mandrelopenings 210 and 212 in order to allow the cable spool 200 to be spun bypulling on the coaxial cable 208, thus unwinding the coaxial cable 208from the drum 202 of the cable spool 200.

FIG. 2A discloses the example cable spool carrying device 100 just priorto the insertion of the feet 108 and 110 of the device 100 into thecircular mandrel opening 210 in the top flange 204 of the example cablespool 200. As disclosed in FIG. 2A, the distance D1 between the twocurved outer surfaces 114 and 116 of the first and second legs 104 and106 is about equal to a diameter D2 of the circular mandrel opening 210.Further, the radius of curvature of the two curved outer surfaces 114and 116 matches the radius of curvature of the circular mandrel opening210 in the flange 204 of the cable spool 200. Also disclosed in FIG. 2A,the diameter D2 of the circular mandrel opening 210 is smaller indiameter than an outside distance D3 between the feet 108 and 110.

FIG. 2B discloses the example cable spool carrying device 100 duringinsertion of the feet 108 and 110 of the device 100 into the circularmandrel opening 210 of the cable spool 200. As disclosed in FIG. 2B,during insertion of the device 100, the leaf-spring component 130 allowsthe legs 104 and 106 to be resiliently bent toward one another in orderto allow the feet 108 and 110 to be inserted into the circular mandrelopening 210. Also disclosed in FIG. 2B, the tapered portions 122 and 124cause the feet 108 and 110 to slide toward one another when the feet 108and 110 are forced through the circular mandrel opening 210.

FIG. 2C discloses the example cable spool carrying device 100 afterinsertion of the feet 108 and 110 of the device 100 into the circularmandrel opening 210 and during the lifting of the cable spool 200 usingthe device 100. As disclosed in FIG. 2C, after insertion, the leafsprings 132 and 134 of the leaf-spring component 130 cause the legs 104and 106 to automatically spring back to a position where the distance D1between the two curved outer surfaces 114 and 116 is about equal to thediameter D2 of the circular mandrel opening 210. Also disclosed in FIG.2C, during the lifting of the cable spool 200, the uneven surfaces 118and 120 of the feet 108 and 110 engage an inside surface 214 of the topflange 204.

With continuing reference to FIG. 2C, the example cable spool carryingdevice 100 may further be configured to prevent a technician from usingthe device 100 to lift the cable spool 200 if the cable spool 200 isgreater than or equal to a predetermined weight. For example, someportion of the handle 102, the legs 104 and 106, or the feet 108 and 110can be configured to break when the example device is attached to acable spool that is heavier than or equal to a predetermined weight(such as 40 pounds or 50 pounds, for example) and the technician exertsa lifting force with the technician's hand 302 on the handle 102 that isequal to the predetermined weight. This breaking at a predeterminedweight prevents the technician from lifting a cable spool at or above aweight considered safe, thus avoiding injury to the technician.

FIG. 2D discloses the example cable spool carrying device 100 just priorto the extraction of the feet 108 and 110 of the device 100 from thecircular mandrel opening 210 of the example cable spool 200. Asdisclosed in FIG. 2D, when a technician wishes to detach the exampledevice 100 from the example cable spool 200, the technician can graspthe legs 104 and 106 with one hand 302 and squeeze the legs 104 and 106together. The technician can then lift on the handle 102 with the otherhand 300. The example device 100 is therefore configured to be attachedand detached to the cable spool 200 manually without the assistance ofany tools. Once detached from the cable spool 200, the example device100 can be reused by attaching to another cable spool.

The example cable spool carrying device 100 disclosed herein thusenables a cable technician to carry the cable spool 100 with only onehand, thus freeing the other hand to simultaneously perform other taskssuch as carrying tools and other equipment or holding onto a hand railor a ladder.

The example embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in otherspecific forms. The example embodiments disclosed herein are to beconsidered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.

1. A carrying device comprising: a handle; first and second legsattached to the handle; and first and second feet attached to the firstand second legs, respectively, each foot including an engagement surfacethat is substantially perpendicular to at least a portion of the leg towhich the foot is attached; wherein each leg is configured to beresiliently bent toward the other leg in order to allow the legs toextend through a circular mandrel opening in a flange of a cable spooland the engagement surface of each foot is configured to engage aninside surface of the flange.
 2. The carrying device as recited in claim1, wherein the handle includes indentations for four fingers of a humanhand.
 3. The carrying device as recited in claim 1, wherein each legincludes a curved outer surface having a radius of curvature thatmatches the radius of curvature of the circular mandrel opening in theflange of the cable spool.
 4. The carrying device as recited in claim 3,wherein the distance between the two curved outer surfaces is aboutequal to a diameter of the circular mandrel opening.
 5. The carryingdevice as recited in claim 4, wherein: the resiliency of the legs allowsthe feet to be inserted into the circular mandrel opening in the flangeof the cable spool; and each leg is further configured to automaticallyspring back to a position where the distance between the two curvedouter surfaces is about equal to a diameter of the circular mandrelopening.
 6. The carrying device as recited in claim 1, wherein at leasta portion of the engagement surface of each foot comprises an unevensurface.
 7. The carrying device as recited in claim 6, wherein eachuneven surface is substantially parallel to a top portion of the handle.8. The carrying device as recited in claim 7, wherein the feet areconfigured to break away from the handle when a force greater than orequal to a predetermined force is applied to the uneven surfaces of thefeet.
 9. A cable spool carrying device comprising: a handle; first andsecond legs attached to the handle; first and second feet attached tothe first and second legs, respectively, each foot including anengagement surface that is substantially perpendicular to at least aportion of the leg to which the foot is attached and that is configuredto engage an inside surface of a flange of a cable spool; and means forbiasing the first and second legs away from one another.
 10. The cablespool carrying device as recited in claim 9, wherein the means forbiasing comprises one or more leaf springs positioned between the firstand second legs.
 11. The cable spool carrying device as recited in claim9, wherein the means for biasing comprises one or more resilientportions of the first and second legs.
 12. The cable spool carryingdevice as recited in claim 9, wherein each leg is configured to extendthrough a circular mandrel opening in the flange of the cable spool. 13.The cable spool carrying device as recited in claim 12, wherein the legsare configured to break when a force greater than or equal to apredetermined force is applied to the feet.
 14. The cable spool carryingdevice as recited in claim 12, wherein the feet include taperedportions, respectively, that cause the feet to slide toward one anotherwhen the feet are forced through a circular opening that is smaller indiameter than an outside distance between the first and second feet. 15.The cable spool carrying device as recited in claim 12, wherein thecable spool carrying device is configured to be manually attached anddetached to the cable spool without the assistance of any tools.
 16. Thecable spool carrying device as recited in claim 12, wherein the cablespool carrying device includes a visible indicator that designates thesize of the circular mandrel opening through which the legs of the cablespool carrying device is configured to extend.
 17. A cable spoolcarrying device comprising: a handle; first and second legs connected tothe handle, each leg configured to extend through a circular mandrelopening in a flange of a cable spool; first and second feet connected tothe first and second legs, respectively, at least a portion of each footincluding an uneven surface that is generally perpendicular to thecorresponding leg and is configured to engage an inside surface of theflange of the cable spool; and first and second leaf springs connectedto the handle and configured to bias the first and second legs away fromone another.
 18. The cable spool carrying device as recited in claim 17,further comprising first and second supports reinforcing the connectionsbetween the handle and the first and second legs, respectively.
 19. Thecable spool carrying device as recited in claim 17, wherein the handleis configured to substantially surround the four fingers of a human handwhen the handle is gripped by the hand.
 20. The cable spool carryingdevice as recited in claim 17, wherein the legs are configured to breakaway from the handle when the cable spool carrying device is attached toa cable spool that is heavier than or equal to a predetermined weightand a user exerts a lifting force on the handle that is equal to thepredetermined weight.